Berlin: Download THR's Day 6 Daily

A look at the studio deals burning up the fest, a roundtable with the cast and director of 'Alone in Berlin' and a chat with Michael Grandage about his directorial debut 'Genius.'

The Hollywood Reporter released its sixth Berlin Film Festival daily issue, featuring a look at the studio deals burning up the fest, a roundtable with the cast and director of Alone in Berlin and a chat with Michael Grandage about his feature directorial debut Genius.

Studios Soar as Streamers Sputter
It was a tale of two markets during the first five days of the Berlinale, with a handful of big domestic deals creating lots of heat while the international sales side remained relatively cool and quiet: James Ponsoldt’s The Circle, Jeff Nichols’ Loving and George Clooney’s Suburbicon. Entering the festival, insiders wondered if Amazon and Netflix would be as aggressive as they had been in Sundance, but so far that hasn’t been the case. Sources say Amazon has been bidding on projects, but some filmmakers are unsure about its model, which involves partnering with a theatrical distributor.

Together With Alone in Berlin
The 2016 film adaptation by Swiss actor-turned-director Vincent Perez stars Irishman Brendan Gleeson and London native Emma Thompson as Otto and Anna Quangel. After their son is killed in the war, and with Adolf Hitler at the height of his power, the Quangels begin to write postcards denouncing the Nazis and distribute them across Berlin. German star Daniel Bruhl, 37, plays the police detective who is tasked with finding the culprit behind this act of treason. Just hours ahead of the pic’s world premiere in competition at the Berlinale, the director and cast sat down with THR to discuss the long journey from book to film and the importance of fighting tyranny, whatever the cost.

From Stage to ScreenGenius, which dives into the world of celebrated New York book editor Max Perkins and stars Nicole Kidman, Colin Firth, Jude Law, Dominic West, Laura Linney and Guy Pearce. Ahead of the biopic's world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, seasoned theater director Michael Grandage spoke to THR about making the scary transition from stage to screen (a la Sam Mendes) and casting Brits and Aussies to play iconic American authors.